# Accident 19980404006019A: Piper PA18150, Talkeetna, AK, April 4, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 1998, 13:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: XWQC
- Location: 62.4496° N, 149.7903° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4496&lon=-149.7903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4320Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4320Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980404006019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS LANDING A SKI EQUIPPED, TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE ON A REMOTE, SNOW COVERED RIVER GRAVEL BAR. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR SKIS STRUCK AN OBJECT BURIED IN THE SNOW.  THE PILOT ADDED POWER, AND DEPARTED WITHOUT STOPPING.  THE PILOT DID NOT OBSERVE WHAT TYPE OF OBJECT WAS IN THE SNOW.  UPON RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, THE PILOT DISCOVERED DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACH POINT.                                                                 (-23) ON APRIL 5, 1998, ABOUT 1300 ADT, A SKI-EQUIPPED PIPER, PA-18-150 AIRCRAFT, N460Z, SUSTAINED DAMAGE WHILE LANDING ON A SNOW COVERED GRAVEL BAR IN THE TALKEETNA RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR). DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT ON 04/07/98, HE STATED THE RIGHT SKI STRUCK AN UNKNOWN OBJECT WHILE LANDING. THE IMPACT BOUNCED THE AIRCRAFT BACK INTO THE AIR, AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND RETURNED TO TALKEETNA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND DAMAGE LIMITED TO THE RIGHT FRONT LANDING GEAR FITTING.THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON THE NEED FO R CAREFUL EVALUATION OF THE LANDING AREA DURING OFF-AIRPORT OPERATIONS.     THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A FAR 135 CHECKRIDE FROM AN INSPECTOR IN THE ANC FS DO RECENTLY, WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA035), Apr 4, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were snow covered terrain, and a hidden obstruction.

## Other reports on N4320Z (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20030808037219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030808037219A), Aug 8, 2003: Piper PA18150 (N4320Z), Healy, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Just prior to touch down the pilot encountered a sudden gust of wind which blew the aircraft into a patch of willow trees. The aircraft came to rest…
- [Accident 19980616020799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980616020799A), Jun 16, 1998: Piper PA18150 (N4320Z), Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Windshift to tail on landing. Used brakes. Nosed over on tundra. Had newly installed tundra tires. (.4)the pilot was practicing tundra landings with newly…
- [Accident 19940531013099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940531013099A), May 31, 1994: Piper PA18150 (N4320Z), Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Crosswind gust landing caused cub to swerve. Lost control. Exited runway into a pond. Nosed over.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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